Self-compensating toe binding



I United States Patent [1113,545,783

[72] Inventor llialmarlivam 3,198,536 8/1965 Rossellat ..280/ll.35(HA)Rte 1,Box404,Beaverton,0regon97005 3,207,525 9/1965 Hvam 280/! l.35(l-lA211 ApplLNo. 770,350 3,265,400 8/1966 Hvam....l a o/1135mm [22] Filed[45] Patented Oct. 24, 1968 Dec. 8, 1970 [54] SELF-COMPENSATING TOEBINDING ll.35(H), 11.35(AA), ll.3S(AB), l 1.35(A), 11.35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,994,543 8/1961 Hvam ..i280/] l.35(HA) Primary Examiner- Banjamin Hersh AssistantExaminer-Milton L. Smith Attorney-Buckhorn, Blore, Klarquist andSparkman ABSTRACT: A sole-engaging cup pivotal on a base has grippingribs for engaging the end of the sole of a ski boot and having upper,wedging portions which wedge the toe end of the sole downwardly againstthe ski. The wedging portions are adapted to press soles of a wide rangeof thicknesses against the ski merely by pushing the boot forwardly intotight engagement with the cup.

,PATENTED DEC 8 I970 FIG. I

HJALMAR HVAM INVENTOR BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYSSELF-COMPENSATING 'ros nrnnmo DESCRIPTION This invention relates to-aselfcompensating toe binding, and more particularly to a toe bindingadapted without adjustment to securely hold ski boots of a wide range ofsole thicknesses.

The thicknesses of the soles of ski boots vary over a wide range. It isdesirable to secure the boots to skis with the sole toes against theskis. This has, in the past, necessitated adjustable lip or swivelmembers which increases the cost and complicates the construction, aswell as requiring considerable skilled effort to obtain the optimumadjustment.

An object of the invention is to provide a self-compensating toebinding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toe binding adapted tosecurely hold ski boots over a wide range of thicknesses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ski binding adaptedwithout adjustment to securely hold ski boots of a wide range ofthicknesses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski binding having atoe-receiving cup'provided with a wedging lip portion adapted to pressthe toe of a sole of a ski boot against a ski regardless of thethickness of the sole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski binding having asafety releasable swivel member adapted to nonslippingly engage the toeend of the sole of a ski boot and also having wedging lip means adaptedto force the toe portion of the ski boot downwardly when theski boot ismoved forwardly along the ski- The invention provides aself-compensating toe binding including a releasable swivel memberhaving wedging means adapted to press the toe end portionof the sole ofa ski boot downwardly against the ski when the ski boot is movedforwardly along the ski and to positively hold the sole downwardlyagainst the ski. The swivel member preferably is of the cup type andpreferably has vertical ribs adapted to engage the end of the sole toprevent side slipping, and, in a selfcompensating toe binding forming aspecific embodiment of the invention, the wedging means comprisesinclined upper extensions of the ribs adapted to overhang the toeportion of the sole of the ski boot.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a self-compensating toe bindingforming one embodiment of the invention;

FIG.- 2 is an enlarged, partially. sectional, top plan view of g thebinding of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation view of the binding of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, side I elevation view of the binding of FIG. 1;and

FIGS is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken alongline 5-5 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown therein aself-compensating'toe binding mounted on a ski l2 and serving, with aheel binding 14, to securely hold a ski boot 16 on the ski until themaximum safe force on the boot is reached and then release the bootsidewise. The toe binding includes a base 18 fastened to the ski and aswivel 20 rotatable on a vertical, headed post 22 fixed against anymovement relative to the base and urged upwardly on the post by acompression spring 24. Rounded detents 26 on the swivel project intorecesses 28 in the head of the post when the swivel is in its normalposition in which it extends directly rearwardly along the ski. When themaximum safe lateral force on the ski boot is approached, the force onthe swivel swings it sideways to release the boot. Before the swivel canswing sidewise, the detents cam the swivel downwardly.

The swivel 20 includes a generally arcuate or cupped portion 30 ofslightly greater width than that of the toe end of a sole 32 of the skiboot and having arcuate jaws or wings 33.

The jaws have rounded or blunt edged, longitudinally tapered, ribs 34and 36, which blend into wedge portions 38, which abut a strengthening,overhanging lip at their upper ends and which have rounded or bluntedges 42 which are inclined substantially to the vertical, theinclination to the vertical preferably being at least 25 to the verticalat their lower por tions and increasing proceeding upwardly.

When the boot is pushed forwardly along the ski by a known heel binding14 as the heel binding is actuated to its latched or holding position,the wedge portions 38 wedge the toe end portion downwardly against thethin, platelike rear portion of the base. The wedge portions presssomewhat into the upper forward corner of the toe end portion of thesole and the ribs 34 and 36 press somewhat into the toe end portion ofthe sole. This keys the sole to the swivel and prevents the boot fromslipping sidewise relative to the swivel. However, when the sidewisethrust on the ski boot approaches the maximum safe force, the detents 26earn the swivel downwardly and the swivel is swung sidewise by the bootto release the boot from the ski, the ribs and wedge portions easilyreleasing the boot as the swivel is swung from its holding position. Thewedge portions and the ribs have rounded edges so that they do not cutgrooves into the sole while they do sink into the sole sufficiently toexcellently key the sole to the swivel. The wedge portions and the ribsare generally wedge shaped in transverse cross section. The heel binding14 has an arm 50 which is pressed forwardly and downwardly to itslatched of holding position by a spring arm 52 when an actuating leveris swung downwardly. The heel binding is adapted to release the bootwhen the forward end of the arm 50 is swung above the pivot point of thearm. A carriage 54 is adjustable along a base 56 to adjust the bindingfor different size of boots and for different forward holding forces.

The cupped portion 30 is shaped to receive and securely hold ski bootsof any toe end shape from squarish to roundish and the ribs 34 and 36and the wedge portions 38 thereof are spaced so as to engage, hold andwedge down such ski boots over the entire range of sole toe endconfigurations.

The wedge portions 38 enable the toe binding to securely hold boots overthe entire, rather wide, range of sole thicknesses in which ski bootsare constructed. The wedge portions overhang the sole sufficiently topositively prevent the sole from moving upwardly and press to the toeend portion of the sole, whether thick or thin, firmly downwardlyagainst the base. The wedge portions do this whether or not the toe endportion of the sole is curled upwardly.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In a self-compensating toe binding:

a base;

and swivel means mounted pivotally on the base and including holdingmeans comprising a plurality of generally vertical ribs for engaging atoe end of a sole of a ski boot to normally hold the sole againstsidewise movement relative to a ski on which the base is mounted;

the ribs tapering from smaller at the lower end thereof to larger at theupper ends thereof; and

the swivel means also having wedge means adapted to move the toe endportion of the sole downwardly toward the ski when the ski boot is movedforwardly into pressing engagement with the swivel means.

2. In a self-compensating toe binding:

a base;

and swivel means mounted pivotally on the base and including holdingmeans comprising a plurality of generally vertical ribs for engaging atoe end of a sole of a ski boot to normally hold the sole againstsidewise movement relative to a ski on which the base is mounted; and

the swivel means also having wedge means comprising a plurality of riblike members forming continuations of and blending into the upper endsof the ribs and adapted to move the toe end.portion of the soledownwardly toward the ski when the ski boot is moved forwardly intopressing engagement with the swivel means.

3. In a self-compensating toe binding:

a base;

swivel means comprising an arm pivotal about a generally vertical axisat its forward end and having a cupped rear end portion and mountedpivotally on the base andineluding holding means for engaging a toe endof a sole of a ski boot to normally hold the sole against sidewisemovement relative to'a ski on which the base is mounted;

the cupped rearend portion having inclined, overhanging, wedge meansunder and against which the toe end portion of the sole is adapted to bemoved and adapted to move the toe end'portion of thesole downwardlytoward the ski when the ski boot is .moved forwardly into pressingengagement with the swivel means; and

theholding means comprising a plurality of generally vertical ribstapering from smaller at the lower ends thereof to larger at the upperends thereof and positioned at op posite sides of the center line of therear end portion.

4. In a self-compensating toe binding:

a base;

anda rigid swivel arm mounted pivotally on the base and having a wide,cupped rear end portion for engaging a toe end of a sole of a ski bootto normally hold the sole against sidewise movement relative to a ski onwhich the base is mounted;

the cupped rear end portion being sufficiently wide to substantiallyspan the width of the toe end portion of the sole of a ski boot to beused therewith; and a the swivel arm also having vertically tapered riblike wedge means'adapted to move the toe end-portion of the soledownwardly toward the ski whenwthe ski boot is moved forwardly intopressing engagement with the swivel means.

5. The self compensating toe binding of claim 4 wherein the wedge meanscomprises vertical ribs tapered from larger'at the tops to smaller atthe bottoms, the ribs being inclined relative to the vertical and thehorizontal for pressing the toe end portion of the sole downwardly.

' '6. The self-compensating toe binding of claim 5 wherein the 1 ribsengage the outer portions of the forward end of the sole of theinnermost ribs.

